Indian obsession with the "M" word - A 25 year old's dilemma

Hey there!
It's been a while since I crossed the fun "early twenties" and am now on the sacred junction, about to jump into the latter half. I call it "sacred" because everyday it becomes clearer to me how deeply the 25th year is associated with the holy matrimony stage in an Indian girl's life.
By the way, what's so "holy" about it anyways?
Do we really become sacred after the grand celebration?
Or is it just that it is a certification to have legal sex? Probably thats why it's called the "holy" matrimony.
Everybody knows you're doing it, but somehow it's too "holy" of a thing to say!
But, if anyone knows about your adventures or should I call it misadventures before you're married, it won't be such a holy sight.

Gawd...for all the "holy"ness in the world I wonder why are we so obsessed with "Marriage" as soon as we hit the big two five??

Maybe it's not always just us, it's our parents, friends, family friends, extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieghbours, Mrs. Bahri who met me when I was 5 and never saw me after that....Everybody!!!
They are all suddenly worried about nothing but a simple title before our names! It should now not read a deplorable in-her-late-twenties "miss", but instead change to a respectable "Mrs."

But are we, the ones who actually have to get the title-change, really bothered by it?
Honestly, does it make that huge of a difference?

We wouldn't get an extra arm for getting married. Niether would the tax-commission spare us for doing the right thing at the right age.
Yea...probably the only good thing I see coming out of it is international travel. No more unmarried-girl-of-a-marriageable-age visa rejection.
The gifts that you get aren't that great or useful either (remember...they're bought by your parents, friends, family friends, extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieghbours, Mrs. Bahri who met me when I was 5 and never saw me after that!)

If you have someone in your life that you love...great...be happy with him! If you don't, it doesn't mean that you're not fit to survive on your own two feet! Does it??
Then why marry?!
Why do everybody's questions about our health or work or life in general have subtle undertones of the same required answer...Marriage: Yes or No. (Mostly, they're not that subtle. Hope they were.)

Well, I'm 25 and a half, healthy, happy (if left by myself), doing well at work, socially satisfied and not married.
Does it make me less "holy"?
Yes?!
OK then...I think I can live with that.

Nose on the jog...

Long time back I was introduced to this quaint little ridge near my place. A total excercise freak that I am, started exploiting it immediately to tone up those saggy calves. Since then my legs have totally been relishing the regular work-outs in that area, but very recently I discovered that my nose has been doing a little work-out of its own.

This is the story of my nose, very literally, on the jog! So, hear it for my nose itself (I know all of you’re saying…”Gawd…now her nose’s talking too!” But my nose can't hear…)

So here it goes...

Starting with the generous dose of vehicle smoke that I inhale as soon as I get out of home (living in South Delhi is a REAL blessing...who wants to live till 100 anyways!). And then there's the cigarette smoke & generator smoke (Thank you frequent power-cuts!) and million other kinds of smokes (cough...cough...its great exercise for the throat and facial muscles by the way)
Finally we enter this terrain within the city, cut-off from the outside hustle-bustle.
I am greeted with the scent of fresh flowers and young grass. I feel this tingle inside that’s caused when an orange peel is squeezed with a sprinkle of flower juice. So rejuvenating!

Further on I’m carried to this nice woody fragrance. Robust and inviting, it calls me to itself and I just can’t help but take a deep breath of nature. It fills me up with all of its vigour and makes me want more (its almost orgasmic…no wonder they bottle it up and sell it for a bomb)
Acchhhhhoooooo!
What is that?!! Mmmm…smells like…I think someone just had a little mishap with a bottle of Gucci Rush before coming for the jog! I like the perfume, but not to bathe in!
Puff puff…bad air out…good air in…bad air out…good air in…
OK now…returning to the woody fragrance again…aaaaah…its fine now.

Sniff sniff…aww…guess a baby is around. I love the way they smell with the J&J on. A little whiff of it is enough to take me back in time when all scents were so new. Life was such an adventure. Every day had a “Eureka” moment. Mommy’s hug, the bed-sheets, the food, the poop…everything was so unique.
Life’s so much more predictable now.
Same old food, monotonous perfumes, regular variety of smokes… but this place still keeps me alive. Just when the boredom starts to creep in, it brings in something new and interesting.

I think there’s some conversation happening now with Aunty ji. And I can tell that Aunty ji’s been making yummy chholey early morning. Chholey for breakfast…sounds like Spanish omelette at a high tea!
Well…To each his own!

Hmmmmm…conversation over…back to the woods! :)

Sometimes I wonder, how do these people take the gazillion scents and smells they inhale everyday for granted??
Its like I’m just for breathing…Whatever!!!
I get insulted you know…I have feelings too!
I am so much more than a necessity..I am a luxury. I am an ornament on that face of yours.
Just imagine youself without me on... ugly picture...ain't it?
People spend a lot of cash to fix me. I even have special doctors dedicated to my service.
Snobbery & anger reside on me.
Haven't you heard...Keep your nose to the grindstone or have a nose for the job?!
So, please respect me.

Hey! Someone’s been smoking! Why else would anyone try to have an extra large helping of “Chutki”. It smells sweet and all, but I don’t think its Stomach’s favourite. That’s what he told me! When will Uncle start being a man in front of Aunty ji, instead of chickening behind a packet full of “Chutki”.

Hmphhhh…I guess we’re on the road again. Familiar smokes, boring world, same old smells…

Woweeeeee!!!! Are those my favourite yummylicious vapours from heaven?
Mom’s been making pancakes with oodles of butter and honey-drizzle.

So much for those legs…Haha…my work-out was worthwhile for sure!

I - INDIAN

I stand in goverment queues, till im returned.
I get crushed in buses, locals and metros & im burnt.
My need & desperation are called resilience.
Im fired at, bombed...now I need answers to my questions.
Im strength, im one voice...I need action.
Im not caste, colour, race or religion.
I AM INDIAN.

The Last Wish...

Too many walls have been raised.
Too much distance has come in.
Its like a huge deep gorge,
You on one side...And me on the other.
And the two sides are so far apart
that we cant even see eachother.
Makes me sad.
Wish I could cry me a river
And fill the gorge
And swim across to you.
But that happens in fairylates...
My fairytale is you...
But...fairytales dont come true.

Wish there was a way
To reinvent and rediscover
A new way to reach the other side
A new way to be together
I tell myself often
Looking towards the other side
I know you're out there somewhere
Its not your fault its the fault of my eye
It cant reach you coz of the distance
and coz the gorge so deep
Wish i could cry me a river
As big as the deep blue sea.

Would've swum till my last breath
Across the waves & the tides
But cant cry me a river
The tears have now dried.

But if asked for my last wish
Surely I would say
Wish I could cry me a river
Or find another way.

Just some scribbles...

When it HITS you... It wont pain
but without pain...dude there's no gain
he slaps mah face then gives me a kiss
he strips me bare...he steals mah cannabis
i beg for da shit...at that point
he breaks into a laugh n rolls da joint
i knock his balls n make him piss
dare he steal from me mah cannabis
(dose were fun tyms wen I wrote dis…it still makes me laugh. Though the first line is not mine…)

Life is Beautiful
I can see clearer now
Colours brighten the world
Lines seem sharper
Smoother seem the curves

I hear better now
Sweet sounds of melody
The sounds of nature
And the winds of January

All smells are lovely now
Sweetness of the candy cane
Melting butter, fresh flowers
The tingling tangerine

The tastes are heightened
Everything feels so good
Extraordinary senses
I am in the mood

Mood for smiles
Mood for talk
Mood to hold hands
On the beach and walk

A panoramic vision
A want that’s invincible
To make it through
Coz now… life’s beautiful

Happiness is for the giving
Joy comes to ones truly living
great are the ones who look at all
love 'em equal, both big & small- Monica

* Thought for the day: *
love holds us strong
love holds us tight
love holds us close
with all its might
love is to share
love is to give
love is to die
love is to live
love is with both big & small
but my friend the greatest love outta all
is the one built in the mother's womb
It goes till the grave and till the tomb
it sees no colour
it sees no race
just watch a child and its mother in embrace
You'll smile
and so will your heart
if you want to love
thats where you should start
- By Ms.M for Mommy(If you love your mom a LOT...please feel free to write this poem on a little card and give it to her today)